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June 13, 2008

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The talks between the McCain and Obama campaigns on debates appear to have broken down, with Obama's campaign — evidently concluding that the format could favor McCain, or at least give McCain some oxygen — offering just one town hall and one extra debate in response to McCain's suggestion of 10.

"We fear that our negotiations over joint town hall meetings are turning into a debate about process," McCain campaign manager Rick Davis writes to Obama campaign manager David Plouffe. "That is exactly what we have always hoped to avoid, and why we proposed a town hall format that would render many of these process issues moot. As Sen. Obama has said, he is prepared to meet 'anywhere, anytime' for a town hall."

Plouffe responds that “it’s disappointing that Sen. McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country."

UPDATE: The single town hall Obama agreed to would be on the Fourth of July weekend, a guarantee of a small audience which McCain spokesman Brian Rogers referred to as a "total joke."

Letter sent to the Obama campaign:

Dear Mr. Plouffe,

Thank you for responding to our proposal. Just to reiterate, we have proposed at least ten joint town hall meetings once a week until the week before the Democratic Convention begins. As we understand your counter-proposal, you have proposed only one town hall meeting before the Democratic Convention.

In keeping with our original proposal, we are planning a joint town hall meeting in Minnesota next Thursday evening (June 19, 2008). We will hold time on our schedule for joint town halls every Thursday night until the Democratic convention. I hope Senator Obama would reconsider his position and agree to join Senator McCain as early as next week.

We have also today accepted the invitation from Mrs. Ronald Reagan, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson to attend town hall meetings in July at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library. As Mrs. Johnson said, these town halls will truly be an opportunity to "deliberate the great issues of our time." Their sponsorship certainly meets our standards for a positive and productive opportunity for voters to interact with the candidates. I hope you will agree.

However, at this moment, we fear that our negotiations over joint town hall meetings are turning into a debate about process. That is exactly what we have always hoped to avoid, and why we proposed a town hall format that would render many of these process issues moot. As Senator Obama has said, he is prepared to meet "anywhere, anytime" for a town hall.

We remain committed to this idea because joint town hall meetings offer the best format for presenting both candidates' visions for our country's future in a substantive way. We have a chance to change the way presidential elections are run and elevate the political dialogue. Americans deserve this kind of opportunity, and we hope that Senator Obama will join us at town hall meetings throughout the summer months.

Sincerely,

Rick Davis

And the Obama campaign's response to Davis' letter:

“Barack Obama offered to meet John McCain at five joint appearances between now and Election Day—the three traditional debates plus a joint town hall on the economy in July and an in-depth debate on foreign policy in August. That package of five engagements would have been the most of any Presidential campaign in the modern era—offering a broad range of formats—and representing a historic commitment to openness and transparency.

“It’s disappointing that Senator McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country.

“Senator Obama believes that the American people deserve an open and accessible debate as they choose between real change and four more years of failed Bush policies, and he welcomed McCain’s invitation to offer voters ‘the rare opportunity of witnessing candidates for the highest office in the land discuss civilly and extensively the great issues at stake in the election,’” said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.

Ben, it may be worth noting, as JMart did, that this first "town hall" was little more than a total farse of friendly fire
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0608/McCains_free_night_at_Federal_Hall.html

grandpa warmonger wants to fill town hall with his supporters and ask stupid questions like is Obama an American, team Obama should only agree on 5 town hall and 5 debates no sitting and see if grandpa has stamina

I agree that more then one or two would be appreciated but let's face it folks - this has been a LOOOONGGG campaign. I seriously doubt that Obama is worried about a face to face with McCain. Regardless - they will happen. And the issue will be moot.
www.avocadojungle.com

John McCain doesn't do town halls with regular people anymore, apparently. Yesterday he tried to tell the media that his Liberty Hall NYC town hall was open to all, but then it was disclosed that the audience was hand picked and the whole thing was scripted.

Your first paragraph makes it sound like Obama only offered two debates in comparison to McCain's 10.
It's actually FIVE debates. Three traditional debates. Two town hall formats.
Please revise your first paragraph, Ben.

Obama can give great scripted speeches. He passed that test (with flying colors). We want to see him in other environments. I don't want a president who can read a teleprompter - I want a president who can think on his feet when "confronted" by questions from normal Americans. Simple enough, eh? (guess not)

To be honest, I'd rather not hear either of them grandstandiong in a town hall setting. It would annoy me to no end when each town hall would inevitably turn into a "who can cheer loudest for their candidate" event.

Obambi willing to meet with Chavez, Castro and Ahmadinjad, but too afraid to answer voters questions.
As for supporters being at McCain event, are the Obambittes claiming that Obambis audiences are chosen by independent pollsters?
C'mon guys, the guy is a wimp and he is trying to slither in without confronting the voters with his policies.

Right, at the Ronald Reagan Library. That won't be a hand-picked crowd of Republicans lobbing softballs at McCain and slurs at Obama!
I am glad to hear this news, Obama should starve McCain of interaction completely. Let McCain fend for himself on publicity, he won't even denounce the 527 muslim slurs. The air belongs to Obama and he should share as little as he possibly can with McCain. The objective is to WIN this election, this is no charity ball. McCain will have to earn his air time just like Obama has earned his, don't let him leech off us.

This could be an issue had last night's town hall not been the obvious one sided farce it was... McCain has standing on this issue until he stacked the audience. If he'd of taken tough questions from Democrats last night, Obama would look weak on this... but because everyone knows had bad the first effort is, it's a non issue and the Obama campaign once again gamed McCain

Mccain was awesome at his Town Hall. The man can speak extemporaneously on a variety of subjects at great length. Without dead air and Ahhhhhhs. Or a teleprompter. Obama is wise to avoid this type of unscripted format.

10 town hall debates is overkill. The five of varying formats seems reasonable, particularly for Obama. No sense in giving McCain free press. In light of the fact that neither Obama nor McCain are great debaters, 10 town halls would eventually become a snooze fest.

It depends on which side of the argument you favor. I think 10 was whacked like most of the McSame agenda, but then I don't believe McShame's agenda at any level.
I am totally in favor of Obama's proposal because I would not take the time to watch 10 same argument debates. What a waste of campaign funds and what a waste of time for the American people to have to listen to the same thing phrased a different way. Yes is yes and no is no. You can put a spin on it if you want, but the end result will be apparent from the outcome of the first debate.
Politics as usual from McBush and CHANGE from Obama is clear as a bell once again. OBAMA should be the next president of the USA.

McCain wants more stacked town halls like last night, where even Faux News complained.. He is acting like a school yard bully calling Obama out to the playground.
Obama will cream him in any appearance they have together.

I really don't get much from the debates any more; the major candidates are so scripted that the only real moments come from people like Joe Biden, who shoot from the hip. Ten town halls is nine too many.

Those that say that Obama hasn't faced tough questions probably haven't been watching this campaign very carefully. He participated in 22 debates (an all time record, as far as I know), which for the most part had questions selected by independent media organizations (like Politico, for instance), and often included questions directly from regular people who weren't supporters. Additionally, Obama has held well over 100 (probably over 200, going back to Iowa) town hall meetings, nearly all of which have been open to the general public. I have watched a few of these and while most people were supporters, he also faced many hostile questions about immigration, abortion, his patriotism, and other issues. He just had one yesterday in Wisconsin. Thanks for playing, trolls! What's the next smear? I'm ready.

Senator Obama believes that the American people deserve an open and accessible debate as they choose between real change and four more years of failed Bush policies, and he welcomed McCain?s invitation to offer voters ?the rare opportunity of witnessing candidates for the highest office in the land discuss civilly and extensively the great issues at stake in the election,?? said Obama campaign manager David Plouffe.
LOL... I love the way the Obama letter was more or less written for public consumption rather than addressing the concerns of Davis's letter on behalf of McCain.
"Real change vs four more years of failed Bush policy." If that's the type of attitude Obama's team would have him go into a Town Hall debate with, no wonder they don't want him doing all of them. This letter is just like Obama: All fluff, no substance. Putting in that cheap shot about "debating" between "change" and the Bush stuff was just a low blow, not to mention a red herring to steer away from the real issue - Why is Obama so afraid to take him on. Plenty of time between now and November... what else does he have to do, solicit donations from lobbyists? Oh wait...

I think Barack is going easy on the old man...Cant you just see it now? The 10,000 Obama supporters showing up and scaring the McCainiacs away with our youth, vigor and terror fist jabs? McCain WILL NOT like the questions we would have for him...

Smart move Obama! We all know Obama would wipe the floor with McCain in any format, but the choice to deny McCain more free press coverage in a format that humanizes him is obvious. McCain will be stuck trying to connect with Americans via his horribly boring and unwatchable stump speeches.

Obama did like 15 debates against fellow Dems. Now he will only meet McCain 5 times?
Obviously he is afraid to debate the more substantive McCain.
What does he have to worry about, I'm sure ABC or whoever will slant the questions the affirmative action candidates way.

It doesn't matter. Obama will not win! Sooner or later he himself, not J. Wright, W. Ayers, Fr Flager, will be the culprit. It will be Obama himself "sticking foot-in-mouth" and his "deck of cards" will come crashing down. The reason Obama doesn't want the Town Hall format is blatantly obvious: He will be confronted with questions that he doesn't have the wherewithal to answer! McCain may stumble a bit too, but his grasp of American political history over the last 23 years will serve him very well. It will resonate to to the American people more positively because of issues and not style. Obama, on the other hand, "looks" better on camera and is taller than McCain. Therefore, the "styled" & controlled" debate format that we have gotten acustomed too in the Presidential campaign era will be more tailored to his particular strengths (or appearance) as a speaker.
While I am here: Who is this guy on CNN--"Michael Ware"? What a trash-mouthed reporter he is. He must have a rifle and shoot bullet holes thru the American flag with it.
I have watched two of his reports from Iraq on CNN and they were so one-sided, anti-American, I changed the channel.
Also, do the men on CNN NOT know what a razor is? The weatherman and Michael Ware both looked like they had never heard of one when I watched last night. Oh well, back to setting the remote between Foxnews and MSNBC.

From Wikipedia: McCain's corruption involvement.
The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The five senators, Alan Cranston (D-CA), Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), John Glenn (D-OH), John McCain (R-AZ), Donald W. Riegle (D-MI), were accused of improperly aiding Charles H. Keating, Jr., chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of an investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB).
After a lengthy investigation, the Senate Ethics Committee determined in 1991 that Alan Cranston, Dennis DeConcini, and Donald Riegle had substantially and improperly interfered with the FHLBB in its investigation of Lincoln Savings. The Committee recommended censure for Cranston and criticized the other four for "questionable conduct."
All five of the senators involved served out their terms, but only Glenn and McCain ran for re-election (and were subsequently re-elected).

Obama is smart not to work into McCain's trap. McCain need the audience but Obama have the audience at his finger tip. Obama is the new kid on the block and his energy is infectious.
How many people watch McCain's town hall yesterday? My guess? A handful of people. Obama's proposal is reasonable. 2 town hall meeting - one on the economy and the other on foreign policy.

Sure, let's have town hall meetings say McCain I'll seat everyone, you know republicans and republicans and then I'll give them a list of questions and then I'll have the answers on a piece of paper and then will pound you. Yeap I would agree to that too. Come on people wake up these republicans are a bunch of hacks they make Jack the Ripper look normal.

I am disappointed in Obama on this, from watching him for quite a while I don't think he does bad in a town hall setting. I'm wondering if they are breaking down now that we have sen how staged McCain wants them to be. I do hope he come up with a better counter proposal rather than just giving it up all together

Yes Becky, your youthful faces and group mob mentality bordering on psychotic obsession with Mr. Obama and oppressive salutes to boot, will really strike fear into the hearts of the rest of the rational voting body. Can't you see me quaking in my boots?

Dear Obama campaign,
I would encourage all of those who are disappointed by this decision to email the campaign through their Web site, barackobama.com.
Here's what I wrote:
Dear Obama Campaign,
I'm very disappointed to hear Mr. Plouffe rejecting Mr. Davis' proposal for around 10 "town hall" debates.
I'm not sure the campaign understands how encouraging and successful Sen. Obama's multiple appearances were in debate and forum appearances during the democratic primary. I believe I am not alone when I say that his demeanor and judgment really shine through, when offered a direct contrast like this. His debating skills win more voters than they turn away.
It has been A VERY LONG TIME since we have had the privilege of hearing an adept, intellectual public speaker on the stump. As a keen reader of history, I yearn for the type of open, free exchange of ideas between some of our greatest leaders -- that could elevate our political discourse, above the pathetic level it has been mired in for what seems like an eternity. A series of debates would only serve to underline the honesty, ethics and moral belief in Sen. Obama's candidacy.
The Obama campaign should embrace this opportunity as something akin to the Lincoln-Douglass debates (and perhaps insist on that particular format, instead of the "town hall" style). This moment should be seized as a unique opportunity, to reach out to more and more voters who may not yet know much about either Obama or McCain. To reject this proposal seems weak, dishonest and uncharacteristic of a person who seems so forthright and true to his views and beliefs.
Please immediately reconsider this decision for the good of your supporters, who believe in this campaign, and the county, who have yet to learn what we already know.
Kind Regards,
someone

McCain has been so condescending to Obama. Who is he to dictate what Obama does? Obama has just finished a grueling primary campaign and McCain expects him to jump right into debates when he (McCain) has been taking it easy for months!! I think he is just attention deprived. They'll get to you when they're ready.

We've already seen the type of "town halls" McCain holds. They're small gatherings of hand-picked McCain supporters, with pre-screened questions. In other words, exactly the same kind of staged event Bush used to do when he was running. McCain is afraid to get out there and talk to real Americans who don't make up his base of support. Why would Obama want to be party to that?

McSane really is coming across as a bully when he doesn't get HIS way. is this how he will behave if he makes it into the white house? between his temper and his bully attitude, should I really think diplomacy in world affairs is an option for mcsane? i think NOT!

It looks like John McCain is trying to avoid speaking using prepared remarks as he seems to be unable to consistently deliver them without gaffs. It is sad that the american people are treated as if they are so stupid that they cant see this is the case. A standard debate is the best way to get substantiative questions answered in a timely fair manner for both candidates. I don't understand why John McCain seems determined to avoid them. Could it be that he feels answering questions prepared by reporters will expose the extent his positions have changed over the past two years or so? Or is he afraid he can't stop making gaffs?

I originally thought the town hall meeting was a good idea but then I read this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/12/mccain-stacks-fox-news-to_n_106881.html
and couldn't help but question the motives of Senator McCain, Also if you are doing debates once a week, it takes away from being able to campaign, a lot of people still don't know enough about Senator Obama, whereas Senator McCain has name recognition, and from the primaries, the more people get to know Senator Obama, the better he does, so this might be a ploy by the McCain campaign to keep him occupied and take away his campaign time.

I don't know where this newfound confidence from McCain "supporters" is coming from. McCain is, frankly, an idiot, and an embarrassment, to boot. Luckily he won't be heard from again after his inevitable defeat in the fall.

Obama would be wise to avoid any situation in which McCain can demonstrate his willingness to exceed the bounds of gentlemanly conversation . McNasty has shown over and over he is willing to interupt , shout , curse , name call and physically intimidate ; and that is just members of his own party . It just would not look good for Obama to take the bait and beach slap a 71 year old .

Way to go Obama. Don't give in to the pathetic request for free air time from grandpa McCain. What a joke. "But but but... WE SAID TEN TOWN HALLS!"
Maybe Obama should challenge him to ten speeches. And then when Senator Senile says no, he can go "But but but... I SAID TEN SPEECHES DAMNIT!!!!" Nice try McCain. Go back to your Faux News circlejerk townhalls, with 200 supporters and planted questions. What a joke!!!

McCain needs to learn how to compromise. Why should Obama agree to 10 town hall meetings that will favor McCain? He's not stupid. Hey Margi, The reason is because it was Obama's idea! Or at least it seemed like a great idea to Obama at the time. I listened to Obama give a six minute press conference a week or so ago. He used the filler sound "a" 91 times. That's one every 4 seconds. He sounded like a 4th grader trying to filabuster a question when he doesn't know the answer.

For all the people posting about "obamabots and obambis". Please grow up. You sound pretty stupid. I suppose when he becomes President of the United States, you plan to secede from the Union. This is 2008 not 1862.

It seems that McCain wishes to engage in a game of throwing water balloons and Obama wants to humor him, but only so far. Good for Obama! Why should Obama let this man of diminishing mentality set his agenda for him? Makes no sense. Since Obama will be the leader of the free world, he must set his own agenda!!

I think McCain better rethink his idea that he is so good in a town hall setting. Some of his major gaffes happened in town halls: "bomb, bomb Iran", "100 years war", and not knowing what the troop levels are in Iraqi.

Every Republican should be thankful that the debates were scuttled over a controvery about the format. It was a big mistake for John "The Great White Stiff" McCain to even propose these townhall debates in the first place. If McCain and Obama are on the same stage, McCain loses, whatever the debate format.

In an effort to reduce the burden on the McCain campaign, Obama should propose the following compromise: Obama attends these town hall meetings all by himself. The day following each of these town hall meetings, McCain's handlers will schedule a press conference to explain what McCain really meant had he spoken.

With this town hall meeting controversy, McCain has given us an excellent example of his immature, churlish, demanding, arrogant, unilateral approach to solving problems. This approach didn't work for Bush. Why does McCain believe it will work for him?

Obama ripped into McCain earlier in the day
"You know, John McCain has proposed a series of debates, and I?m looking forward to having them. But when it comes to Social Security, he might want to finish the debate with himself first."

Since McCainnnnn has not earned respect in the military, except for being shot down and enduring torture, he needs to build respect some other way. He has never been a military commander in combat, and only killed North Vietnamese military and civilians he could not see. He thinks a town hall meeting will hit the spot and build him cred. It would be like him bolting upright in a coffin but then suffering ED. Leave him alone with his "courageous service" in a plane going down and in torture chambers. He endured. We expect a lot more from our presidents than enduring or asserting how much love they have for this country. He does not know foreign affairs, disdains diplomacy as unmanly. When he says he hates wars, don't believe him. He is an outstanding war lover, and that cannot be hidden

Lunchmeat -- you appropriately named.
This is a smart move by the Obama camp. McCain is seeking to neutralize Obama's considerable financial advantage by getting a bunch of free press. Why should Obama cede that advantage, and miss the opportunity to define McCain on their terms, rather than having useless "town halls". Its good politics.

Obama is scared to be unscripted, but all the cool-aid drinking Dems on this site will make excuses for him. Whatever. "He can talk the talk but can he walk the walk" probably not but we will never know.

Obama is a Coward - after Hillary spanked him in that last debate. Let's remember his big shot talk "I;ll debate John McCain and George Bush anytime, anywhere."
What a coward and an empty suit.
A-hole material all the way.

Obama ought to be wary of McCain's town-hall meetings. They could be a trap. The one McCain had where he attacked Obama for not showing up was supposed to have had independents and Democrats in the audience, but McCain was lying. The audience was actually packed with McCain supporters. Another wheel comes off the Double-Talk Express:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/12/mccain-stacks-fox-news-to_n_106881.html

Why is BARACK OBAMA _always_ running away from opportunities (eg. town halls, debates) to explain his so-called "change" message? He would rather have teleprompter assist. WHAT A SHAM. And this is all the Democrats could come up with? Shame on the Democratic Party leadership (so-called SuperDelegates) for foisting this empty-suit fraud Barack Obama upon us. GO JOHN MCCAIN!!!

Obama's already running for cover. This is not good news for the Dems.
Why wouldn't Obama take every opportunity to get personal exposure to the voters? He's supposedly much more intelligent than McCain. He should have no problems. I can't understand what he's afraid of.

Gorgonzola, you are an intellectual midget.....what a stupid thing to say. Based on this I willing to bet that you have no military experience and don't know anybody that does. As an active duty member I can assure you the majority (not all) of military members identify and respect McCain way more than your hero Obama. Next time you decide to spew Lies and you are a liar do some fact check, don't make sh!@ up. Dumba@#! "Since McCainnnnn has not earned respect in the military, except for being shot down and enduring torture, he needs to build respect some other way. He has never been a military commander in combat, and only killed North Vietnamese military and civilians he could not see. He thinks a town hall meeting will hit the spot and build him cred. It would be like him bolting upright in a coffin but then suffering ED. Leave him alone with his "courageous service" in a plane going down and in torture chambers. He endured. We expect a lot more from our presidents than enduring or asserting how much love they have for this country. He does not know foreign affairs, disdains diplomacy as unmanly. When he says he hates wars, don't believe him. He is an outstanding war lover, and that cannot be hidden"

The posters complaining that Obama would be subject to a "trap" by agreeing to town halls filled with McCain supporters must think that the President will never have to confront hostile audiences. I want him to confront a hostile audience to see how he handles it. If he fails at that then he isn't qualifiedto be President. Period.

Senator Obama is afraid of nobody !
You can see by the way he handled the CLinton machine - even their angry supporters !
Mr. Magu is a joke ! and you all know it. So , he cannot read the tele prompters well and he looks ridiculous trying !
He is not better at the town hall gatherings , with someone always making a joke of him !!!
Please !!!
If Senator Obama decided 5 debates is all is needed , that must be about right !
He is the smartest person we have in place ........
Deal with it
Go President Obama , Go
God Bless you and the United States of America

OH yeah, lets all line up to do the McCain 'town halls' just like the one he just did with FOX. Billed as a town hall and stacked to the rafters with his hand picked supporters.
Give me a break. Obama should do his own thing, and ignore McCain's desperate attempts to find some credibility through back room games.

Ancient John and thye GOP still wants to ride on Obama coat tail with a stack deck against him. Free press,and demons placed throughout the town hall. Obama is smarter than that. this whole idea is a farce. Plese,get real and raise your own money. No one is stupid enough to fall for this mess. Obama should continue to do what he is doing,going throughout America and introduce himself. He does not need a job outsourcer by his side. A 100 year war to stuff the banks of corpoprate crooks,and a hi tec marketing plan. There are two millions new squatters in America,because of the GOP.

"Obama will cream him in any appearance they have together." Then why is he avoiding the town halls?"
1) Because it wouldn't seem presidential if Obama caved in to the demands of a bully who tries to use the press to intimidate. 2) Because Obama can win the election with a few debates after the convention. 3) Because Obama does not have the spare time to take from his campaigning to help McCain get some free press. (10 debates before the convention! Get real!) 4) Because he's leading in the polls. 5) Because McCain will look even worse in the other debate formats. 6) Because the American people deserve more than townhall sound bites from these candidates.
Why doesn?t McCain act like a leader and negotiate with the Obama camp privately rather than resort to desperate and ultimately ineffective attempts to pressure Obama through the press? To defeat your opponent, you have to know him. McCain is clueless.

"I'm losing!! Debate me!! I dont have any money to buy face time!"
Town Hall Questions for John McCain::
1.)When you called your wife the C-word in front of dozens of members of the press, was that demonstrative of a leader with the temperament and self-control to be commander-in-chief? And don't you think you owe the women of America, let alone your wife, an apology?
2.)In your quest to protect a certain image appealing to moderate independent voters, you have been very careful not to focus attention on your far right anti-abortion rights position. The women of this country deserve to hear it from your own mouth, would you like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and take away women's right to choose?
3.)You voted with George Bush 100% of the time in 2008, yet you say you are a maverick, and are NOT running for Bush's third term. Do you seriously expect the American people to buy that your administration will be any different than what we have seen from Bush in the last 8 years, when you have voted with Bush 100% OF THE TIME?
4.)Your wife, Cindy McCain, has injected herself into this campaign by directly attacking Michelle Obama's patriotism, declaring herself to be "proud of her country"and implying that Mrs. Obama was not. Senator, were you proud of Mrs. McCain when she stole prescription narcotics from her own charity in order to feed her drug habit?

The poster who gave the six reasons why Obama should not bother with the town halls, you sound like your very important. Are you a member of the Obama 08 campaign? Have you spoke to Obama directly to get his reasoning on this or are you making this all up out of thin air to sound like you know something. Just curious.

Tonight was the first in a much-hyped series of 'town hall' forums scheduled by John McCain's campaign, in which Barack Obama had been challenged to show up to discuss the issues directly with the GOP nominee.
Except, as Fox News reported, McCain's campaign misled the public about the nature of the event. The forum was "billed by the McCain campaign as a town hall with independent and Democratic voters," but Fox News noted at the end that the audience was actually "made up of invited guests and supporters," the Democratic National Committee said in a statement.
SMITH: "I reported at the top of this hour that the campaign had told us at Fox News that the audience would be made up of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. We have now received a clarification from the campaign and I feel I should pass it along to you. The McCain campaign distributed tickets to supporters, Mayor Bloomberg, who of course is a registered Republican, and other independent groups."
DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:
"Once again John McCain's campaign is trying to mislead the American people. Senator McCain should understand that after seven years of a President who has divided Americans and pursued a scorched earth policy full of misleading propaganda campaigns, we need a leader who understands he is the President for all Americans not just his supporters. Copying the Bush campaign model of stacking events with his prescreened supporters is not the transparency Americans are looking for. If that is Senator McCain's idea of straight talk, the American people are in for a long and disappointing campaign season."

I figured as much. I knew that Obama would wiggle out of it. Just like he wiggled out of debating Hillary the past month or two of the campaign. Obama came up with the BS excuse that they had had 20 previous debates. Ha! Certain not UN-MEDIATED debates as Hillary had gutsily proposed.

Smart move by McCain: "We'll leave the light on, Senator Obama. We'll leave a place at the table and let everyone know that you were invited." Clever move, Senator McCain. Hillary should have done that.

Woo hoo! The Obama Campaign declines & rightly so. Just imagine the frightful sight of "Brains & Brillance-Senator Obama" standing next to the "Dull, Dishonest,Washed Out Beast-Senator McCain." If, they do sit down together, I'm hoping they're asked: "Will you abolish Patriot Acts I & II?" "Will you cease construction of the world's largest USA Embassy in Iraq?" "Will you indict G Dubyah Bush, Dick Cheney, Condo Rice, et al?" "Will you deprivatize all govt agencies the Dubyah administration created?" "What about the worthless Dept of Homeland Security, are ya gonna keep it or let it go?" "What about creating, as Dennis Kucinich, has proposed for years, a Dept of Peace?" "What's the advantage of universal healthcare if the USA citizens will still be paying out of pocket for it?" "Will you "pen up" USA activists when they publicly oppose Dubyah's occupation and you, as President continue the occupation of Iraq?" "Will you, at least, cancel all pension benefits Dubyah & his cohorts will receive upon termination of their wicked service to the USA?" Happy Friday!

Despite being outspent, despite the ongoing media tongue bath, despite getting no coverage during the Democratic primaries and despite the terrible GOP outlook this year, there is one simple fact the Obama Cultists are desperately trying to ignore:
With the deck stacked against him, John McCain is only running 3.6 points behind in the RCP national average. That's within the margin of error, and McCain is a proven closer. We all know how Barack stumbles across a finish line.
Don't worry Republicans, Independents and Thinking Public: The Obama Cultists are very afraid of these numbers and the buyer's remorse should appear in very stark fashion sometime around mid-September.

i scared of McCain, he crazy man, me no speak that well when being challenged and may say something incredibly stoopid (lile meeting Satan to discuss god) - better to stay at home and let the sukkas buy me BS and vote for me

I would not have one town hall meeting with McAlzhiemers, what? he wants to put all of his planted supporters in the audience. Sorry, we hav had enought of the "gottcha politics," let him do what he does best and let Obama do what he does best. May the best sound mind win.
Obama 2008

Clinton often made Obama look like a dumb kid in their debates.
Everyone knows how unsteady Obama is when he doesn't have his teleprompter, too.
His camp doesn't want Obama in a free exchange situation with anyone.

Why should McCain dictate the game? I am glad that Obama called him on it because he is much too smart to fall for the okeydoke. Obama is hardly weak and McCain is hardly strong. McCain is a bully, and a bad one at that.

Why should McCain dictate the game? I am glad that Obama called him on it because he is much too smart to fall for the okeydoke. Obama is hardly weak and McCain is hardly strong. McCain is a bully, and a bad one at that.

Obama does not want to be in a situation where he has to talk and think at the same time.
Give him a speech to read and he put on the "change" act.
Obama does not want to be in a situation with someone like McCain who is a quick thinker and has a quick wit.
-----------------
And McCain does not want to be anywhere near a speech or a teleprompter. He just cannot read a good speech - he comes off as a school teacher reading a story.

Obama is a puppet for the Chicago organized crime families. This is why the DNC is being moved to Chicago and reshaped. This is where the Democrat party get their power. This where it has always resided. This is where the Clintons got their power. This is why the Clintons are being so easily neutered and sidelined and Obama has all of a sudden came to the forefront. We all know the Kennedy's were aligned with these same goons. This is why the Democrats are so corrupt. This is where their strong arm tactics come from. Obama is on it only for the money and power, by proxy of course. There is no altruism about him. He?s only a pawn being used by the Chicago crime families. When they are done with him they will toss him aside like they have done with the Clintons. All they want is an "in" into the government. Obama is just a front. This is why the likes of Rahm Emanuel, et al are at the root of the Democrat strategies. This is where all the Obama?s fund raising prowess originates. That?s why his rhetoric is straight out of the 60?s or even earlier. It?s these same old crooks making another run at it with the only playbook they know. Starting to get the picture? And who knows where the Chicago crime families get their power from. That will have to wait for another posting.

This is so true -
"The posters complaining that Obama would be subject to a "trap" by agreeing to town halls filled with McCain supporters must think that the President will never have to confront hostile audiences. I want him to confront a hostile audience to see how he handles it. If he fails at that then he isn't qualified to be President. Period."
YES. I am so tired of 8 YEARS of a president who only appears in protected formats which show him in his best light. The UK prime minister has to answer to Parliament, for pete's sake. Candidates, make yourself available! As we've seen over the last 8 years, anyone who can't handle a situation where they don't control the questions - where they might face real dissent from real people - is not cut out to be president. Period.

All talk, no substance. Obama is smart to avoid having to be specific and forced to explain his platform of generalties. Why run the risk. There are so many Obama cool aid drinkers out there he doesn't need to agree to anything. He already walks on water, just as the mainstream media!

Senator Obama does not do well in town halls. He is good at reading a speech. Too bad he will not do town halls. And he had us thinking he was going to be a different kind of candidate, one more open. I tell you, this guy is a master politico.

John "The Great White Stiff" McCain. What a piece of work. I want to congratulate the Republican Party for nominating a devious, manipulative, game-playing, ignorant (dumber than Bush, which is quite an accomplishment), confused old man. Why did McCain even bother suggesting additional debates if he really did not want them? I don?t find it credible that McCain believed that the process of arranging a mutually acceptable debate format and timetable would not involve some negotiations. The bottom line is that because McCain did not want any debates, he floated the idea of ten townhall meetings IN THE PRESS knowing full well that Obama would not accept that proposal. McCain just wanted a talking point. Is McCain running for President of the United States or Bingo number-caller at the local nursing home? JMac, stop wasting our f****** time with this crap!

OBAMA/Plouffe responds that ?it?s disappointing that Sen. McCain and his campaign decided to decline this proposal. Apparently they would rather contrive a political issue than foster a genuine discussion about the future of our country."
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typical chicago/axelrod political playbook!!!!:
make the opponent the demon..twist the issues to reflect badly on the opponent..
----
&..OH..will OBAMA throw something else under the bus?: his pledge for only public funds...
sheesh!

Just so we have the record straight. We have a consensus. Obama is not good in an unscripted setting and McCain will win hands down in such a forum. Let's be clear. The expectation is a McCain commanding performance over the scared and "sissy" Obama. I look forward to seeing this play out when they meet face to face to debate.

Yea Obama. Why should you jump up and down for McBush? You offered a counterproposal, and McCain declined. It's probably for the best. You would and could have made him look even more ineffective than he already does.

?Just so we have the record straight. We have a consensus. Obama is not good in an unscripted setting and McCain will win hands down in such a forum. Let's be clear. The expectation is a McCain commanding performance over the scared and "sissy" Obama. I look forward to seeing this play out when they meet face to face to debate.?-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you serious? Obama eats McCain?s lunch in any debate format! But do you really want to lay all of your eggs in the debate basket? Does the best debater always make the best president? It seems to me that most observers believed that Hillary Clinton won most of the Democratic primary debates. But that was not enough for her to secure the nomination.

John McCain should just keep hosting his own Town Halls whether Obama shows up or not. It's the only way to have a fair format what with the MSM backing Obama and all! You wanted substance B.O. you got it! You want policy debates? You got it! Too bad you're too scared to show up without a teleprompter.

Good move, Barack. Why play to McCain's strength? Why give him more opportunities to talk down to you. And why give any crackpot plant in the audience the opportunity to ask about flag pins and Rev. Wright. Make him earn it. Besides, Barack can legitimately say he needs to be bonding with everyday Americans. Playing tag-along with McCain and propping him up financially doesn't make sense. If the roles were reversed, with McCain being the younger, more handsome and eloquent speaker, he would not play this game either. Let them crow and play 'chicken' all they want. Just like the so-called independent political surrogate groups, McCain wants others to do his dirty work for him. All the while, he hides behind the aura of civility with that phony, sinister smile on his face.

McSame, McBush, all the age cracks, DEMS are the biggest name callers out there and have no orginality. Get over it, McCain is no Bush just like Bush was not like his father, his father was no Reagan and Obama is no McGovern. Obama supporters are really, really, really dense. What if a racial comment was made on Obama's the same way the DEMS on this site speak of McCain's age. All hell would break loose and that person would be labeled a racist.....well door swings both ways here....

Many of these posts seem to suggest that this the presidential debate is little more than a game - who can draw bigger crowds, who should be allowed to have air time, who is better in what setting. It took 20 debates to decide a democratic nominee. I am not simply (and blindly) impressed with the letters behind a candidate's name, why not have at have the two men running for our nations highest office have several intelligent discussions on how to best lead our country.

I see so much hate on these boards regarding candidate choice.
"We don't have enemies, we have oppenents." - Tim Russert.
He knew that while candidates had different ideas of how to get there, they had the nation's best interest at heart.

Why would Senator Obama want to draw a crowd for Senator McSame to play to? It is obvious from watching McSame on the night Obama won the nomination and last night's "Town Hall meeting" that McSame cannot draw a crowd, so what better way to get an audience to hear him? Smart move. Sorry, the Obama campaign did not bite. McSame's loss.

@PhillyPhoton----You mean like the Crawford village idiot? Now there's a guy who can answer an average American's question. Hell! He didn't even know we pay 4 bucks for a gallon of gas. Have you no IQ, Sir?

?I see so much hate on these boards regarding candidate choice. "We don't have enemies, we have oppenents." - Tim Russert. He knew that while candidates had different ideas of how to get there, they had the nation's best interest at heart.?------------------------------------------------------------Well, Russert was wrong on that point. Politicians don?t always have the nation's best interest at heart. Bush didn't have the nation's best interest at heart when he invaded Iraq.

Face it, Obama does not function well in public without a teleprompter and/or having committed to a memorized, predetermined speech. He "speaks at" people. Thus, the idea that he'd have to field unmoderated comments from even a well behaved audience -- which would contain people who aren't dutifully bowing to his political perspectives -- cowers the guy. And his handlers don't want the public to have access to him, in any other terms but meet&greets and smiles over waffles.

Like I said, he's functioning on celebrity power and without the script and keen editing, he's showing himself to be wanting in reference to the Presidency.

Maybe his keen talents are walking door to door in neighborhoods and asking for community. Nothing (at all) wrong with that.

?McCain is hardly a smooth talker. And yet, Obama ah is afraid to ah meet him ah and ah answer questions without a ah teleprompter and ah scripted answers.?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Obama participated in 22 Democratic debates. He answered the questions without a teleprompter and scripted answers. By the way, how can you tell if an answer is scripted or if the candidate is simply well-prepared and knows his stuff?

As I suspected, the Obomunists are every bit as afraid as their empty suited candidate for him to go man to man with McCain.
Posted By: TransitDave | June 13, 2008 at 01:14 PM
---------------------------------
Right - - afraid of what? You have got be kidding. It would be halirious, if it was so dense. We don't really have time to be dealing with McCain every week. I am so glad the American people are being spared watching John McCain every week. I can hardly stomach him for 3 minutes on a nightly newscast. Yet, we nor Senator Obama look forward to the time we can spare him. The McCain campaign staff should have learned something from the Clinton campaign staff. The best thing for them to do is to develop their own strategy and not sniff up behind Barack trying to use him to win. They had better know what their game plan is without having Barack playing a role. They are already standing around trying to play off of Barack and it is goingto kill them before they even get started. Just watch. They will be scratching their heads wondering what happen.
Just look at what is happening now. Barack is busy setting up his campaign. John McCain is not figured into what he is doing at all. He is putting together his mega team. Lauching 1,000 "in the trenches" trained ground warriors starting Monday. And what is the McCain campaign doing - - hoping that they can get some debates with him. Well - - they will figure it out, sooner or later. Seems like later - - You cannot corner Barack Obama. You will stumbled all over yourself. The guy is a genius.

Posted June 13 1:45 P.M. "For the people posting about Obamabots and Obambis, please grow up,you sound pretty stupid". I couldn't agree more. For the record. Allow me to point out. Mc sane, Mcsame, Grampa Warmonger, McImpotent,The Great White Stiff,Mccainnnnn, Mr. Magu(it's Magoo) Granpa Frankenstein and the always popular Mcbush. These names are only from this board. Those who live in glass houses....

?McSame, McBush, all the age cracks, DEMS are the biggest name callers out there and have no orginality. Get over it, McCain is no Bush just like Bush was not like his father, his father was no Reagan and Obama is no McGovern. Obama supporters are really, really, really dense. What if a racial comment was made on Obama's the same way the DEMS on this site speak of McCain's age. All hell would break loose and that person would be labeled a racist.....well door swings both ways here....?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the major issues, there are no substantive differences between Bush?s policies and McCain's. Age is a factor that needs to be addressed and discussed because it involves the competency of the individual to lead this nation now and for the next four years, when McCain will be 76 years old. Do you know if McCain has had a comprehensive neurological and psychiatric examination? Due to past reports and current evidence of both cognitive and emotional problems, I would hope that he would voluntarily agree to have these examinations. I am worried that, if his allegations that he was tortured are true, that he might have flashbacks or full-blown Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome at some time during his presidency. Obama?s race has no bearing on his competency to hold high office. You criticized the DEMS for lack of originality. Are these names more original: McClone, Bush Lite, JMac, Johnny Come (Much Too) Lately, Night of the Living Dead, Dead Man Walking?

What is the flap all about charging Obama with not participating in town meetings? He only got the nomination a week ago. McCain has been sitting around on his keester for three months because he doesn't have the funds to campaign. Why didn't McCain return to the senate to do the work he is paid to for the three-month period that he was doing nothing as the presumptive nominee?

No-name,
Senator McCain released hundreds of pages of medical records, and his health is better than average for a man 20 years younger. In contrast, Senator Obama released very little in the way of medical history. Where is the evidence that he doesn't have lasting neurological damage from the cocaine he admitted to smoking as a teenager? You mention flashbacks, which make me think of LSD. Which presidential candidate do you think is more likely to have experimented with hallucinogenic drugs in his youth? We know very, very little about Senator Obama. I?d love to see him answer tough questions in a town-hall setting, if only to get to know him better.

John McCain wants to try and set up the meetings where he will have a bunch of anti-Obama people there and the room gets flooded so as to not let other more open minded people in the room. These people would have been coached to ask the same questions that have been asked and answered more times than I care to count. I want a debate that is more geared toward my interests not and not to appear as if McCain is the victim. Smart move Obama.

come on folks!! you must be old and thus pre-disposed to Republicans. John McCain was criminally involved, and admonished by the Senate for his role, in the Keating 5; his wife Cindy, a drug addict for years who stole drugs time and time again, and was not incarcerated only because she was married to a senator (www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/18/drugs/). McCain wants the suicides and deaths of our valiant soldiers to continue for maybe 100 years...well, at least he said it wasn't important when they came home.
If you want the value of the dollar to continue to fall, the price of food and fuel to increase, the cost of an education to continue to skyrocket, and our children's money to continue to fund an illegal and unilateral war, then by all means vote for McCain. Go listen to this comment about the war (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25130683#25130683). A vote for McCain is a vote against America and our Constitution.
he Hanoi Candidate: John McCain
John McCain in "Missing, Presumed Dead" http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=xBiti-ZbeO0 John McCain was the primary opposition to the Senate Select Committee on POWs. He bitterly opposed any attempt to rescue any other POWs. This is very strange since John McCain was himself, a POW. The POWs that might have been rescued, would have been able to give testimony about the 32 propaganda tapes that John McCain made for the communists, while in Viet Nam. The 32 propaganda tapes are still "classified" so that no one can see them. Vietnam Veterans Against McCain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g&feature=related
Conservatives Beware of McCain
Tom DeLay on McCain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf7e7R3gSos

Senator McCain, during combat operations in Viet Nam, was shot down, captured and held as a POW for some years. Additionally, it was reported that he was tortured during his captivity. Understandably, the mental stress and duress of his ordeal took their toll upon him physically and mentally. Post traumatic stress, in varying degrees, is the lot of many, who have been in combat. In McCain?s case, add the circumstance of being a POW accompanied with torture. On top of all of this, add a good measure of fiery temper without outlet during captivity. During a campaign stop McCain called a youthful questioner: ?you little jerk.? Was that the POW (McCain) suddenly freed and able to strike back? I think it was. We might also understand that typically, age does not heal maladies; rather, it tends to exacerbate them.
In view of the bewildering physical and mental experiences suffered by McCain, as a candidate for President of the United States of America, the state of his mental health should rightfully be of grave concern to all Americans. Is it rational for a Navy Officer, who is rather wealthy, to be of the judgment that the titanic sacrifices being made by our troops in Iraq are not worth the price of a college education?
In the not to distant past, the former Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri was put forth as a potential VP candidate. After the fact, his mental state was discovered and revealed. The country needs to know if Senator John McCain was given ample mental screenings by competent medical personnel subsequent to his being freed. How many, how often, by what competent medical entities and when was the last screening performed? What were the results? Are those results going to be made public well before the elections in November? A mushroom cloud and fifty million casualties later will be too late to ask!!! Won?t it?

It appears to me that the request by the Obama campaign was for a compromise of sorts. A town hall and some debates.
McCain appears afraid to do anything but what he thinks he does best at.
Hence he would shy away from debates and want only town hall meetings.
He is going to have to debate Obama
because we, as voters demand it.

Mike sez The posters complaining that Obama would be subject to a "trap" by agreeing to town halls filled with McCain supporters must think that the President will never have to confront hostile audiences.
McCain can't even face an audience that has a balanced mixture of "hostile" and supportive people but pretends he is. He's not only a liar, but he seems to have turned coward. Maybe the people who are disputing his supposed heroism in Vietnam and say he was the "Song Bird" of Hanoi may be right.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20086.htm

McCain wants to make Obama follow him everywhere he goes instead of campaigning where it is most necessary. Every appearance he makes on McCain's propaganda tour/town meetings, is a lost chance to reach voters that the Obama campaign needs. The very placement on Thursday is probably just so that what ever planted question meant to zing Obama at each "meeting" will be the topic of conversation for the following weekend. I don't trust anything that comes out of the Republican camp anymore.

Mccain acts very juvenile to be so old. He continues to toss out these challenges or double dog dares. Obama should rise above this petty behavior and stay on message and keep doing what has made his campaign successful. I can not think of a single reason to do Mccain any favors like give him exposure in the format of his choice. Besides he would probably be looking at 50 people asking dumb ass questions about trinity church and its nutcase pastor.

I wanna hear how McCain is gonna get up in front of the United Nations and lead the world when he can't even give a speech in a mildly attended campaign rally full of hand-picked supporters asked not to wince at every awkward grinning pause while McCain squints his eyes at the teleprompter.

There are no town hall meetings on the world stage.

McCain cannot lead the free world further into war if he's afraid to get up in front to of us to do it.

Come-on, let's stop pretending we're not dealing with some kind of social anxiety in a guy who needs to talk to his doctor about Paxil.

There's NO WAY the McCain campaign can frame his emotional problems as Obama's fear of public speaking.

America is not gonna go for that, and we're not gonna settle for a president who needs a special seating of guests before he can face the nation, the world, and our enemies, face-to-face for seriously intense public addresses.

Stop hiding in your little sewing bees and got out there and address the world, like a world leader, and tell us what you plan to do, so we don't have to come to you to hear your plan 100 people at a time!

Obamanation afraid of an old man? If this guy gets in, suddenly President Bush is going to look like the Einstein of Presidents. At least we know he will put more effort into strategies to kill innocent unborn babies, then he will to kill armed adult jihadists.

Well let's see here.
Barack draws 75,000+ at a campaign rally and McKKKain can't even fill a banquet room even when the chimp is in town.
On top of that he's too embarassed to be seen with el chimpo except for a few seconds at the airport when it can't be helped.
Who needs who here folks?
Spin it anyway you wish, your guy is a pitiful POS.
PS, love the teleprompter talking point. Good little brownshirts.
Wake up and have an original thought.
It's gonna' suck being a Con from here on out but the rest of us will have a generation of peace and prosperity.
Pull your heads out and you might be able to tag along.
Otherwise bend over and assume the position.
Due to your bad attitude there will be sand in the vaseline.

Sounds like a broken record: Obama going back on his words, arguing about process, delaying, so he wouldn't have to debate his opponent. Guess what? That's largely how he squeaked by in the primaries. Everytime he debated Hillary, he lost by a large margin in the next primary. So, he avoided any debates with Hillary after Pennsylvania. Now, he's using the same delay tactics with McCain. Not that I agree with McCain's policies, but at least McCain appreciates debates, a backbone of democracy. Avoiding debates, Obama will most likely squeak by again. Problem for all of us when he becomes president: we'll have a president who can only articulate his positions in front of a teleprompter. Don't we deserve better?

Why will Obama talk to any and all terrorists, but he runs from a few debates? Does he not think the Presidency deserves added dialog to allow voters to make a more informed decision? What is he afraid of?

typical BO he a wimp. Bo stands for nothing,has never done anything and is not qualified. BO is afraid to have town hall meeting for the magic will wear off. Then more people will know he is a fraud, being black can only account for so much and the press cannot sugar coat magical BO for ever, sooner or later people will catch on that BO is a looser

This is unacceptable what Obama is doing. I can't believe the arrogance of this guy, he flatly denied Hillary Clinton her invitation for debates, and now he is playing the game with John McCain. To the Democratic party and anyone supporting this loser.. you people must be seriously delusional. Obama is nothing but an empty suit with a snob for a wife. How can a presidential contender turn down debates and still expect to be considered a serious candidate? He wants it HIS WAY, OR NO WAY AT ALL. He is so uneducated historically, that he is scared to be put to the test. PATHETIC AT BEST.

It appears that Obama cares more about his own election than about American people and their issues?
What to expect from someone who eliminated other candidates with Karl Rove's tactics to win himself a seat in the Illinois Senate.
So much about "change".

I am a bit confused here. I did not think townhall meetings were really debates. What actually happens at townhall meetings? Do the candidates just answer questions from the audience? Are they both asked the same questions? Is there any interaction between the candidates? Can one candidate respond to the other's comments?

?I want to be perfectly clear with George and John McCain,? Obama said, ?If George Bush and John McCain want to have a debate about protecting the United States of America, that is a debate I?m willing to have anytime, anywhere because that is a debate that I will win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for.?
When did Barack Obama ever say he would be eager to have townhall meetings (which are NOT debates) dealing with topics OTHER THAN ?protecting the United States of America? with John McCain ?anytime, anywhere??
Barack Obama must never again assume that John McCain is a reasonable man.

"I want to be perfectly clear with George and John McCain," Obama said, "If George Bush and John McCain want to have a debate about protecting the United States of America, that is a debate I'm willing to have anytime, anywhere because that is a debate that I will win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for." ................................................When did Barack Obama ever say he would be eager to have townhall meetings (which are NOT debates) dealing with topics OTHER THAN "protecting the United States of America" with John McCain "anytime, anywhere"?
Barack Obama must never again assume that John McCain is a reasonable man.

THIS IS CRAPPY NEWS . . . FOR REPUBLICAN CONSPIRITORIAL WING NUTS!!
Posted By: Vince F. | June 13, 2008 at 12:41 PM ------------------- Actually, it confirms he is a coward, who thinks he does not owe America a honest, non-scripted, glimpse into who he really is.

Actually, it confirms he is a coward, who thinks he does not owe America a honest, non-scripted, glimpse into who he really is.
Posted By: Debarak | June 14, 2008 at 02:36 PM
#################################
Actually, this business about getting to know him could have been done by someone with comprehension and reasoning ability of at least 6 years old by now. After all the man has been out in the public intensely for about 18 months now. How long does it take you to figure out anything,along with who Senator Obama is. Why should he pay or be responsible for your ignorance. People can only do so much for you. You have to do something for yourself. You can bring the horse to the water, you can make them drink. Grow up.

Guys, McCain had already passed out tickets to the most recent campaign. Contrary to the Fox News TV report (they issued a 'correction' later), the audience, which would be asking the questions, was composed entirely of McCain supporters. No sane opponent would agree to this.
This is a PR hosejob by the McCain campaign. Don't fall for it.

Guys, McCain had already passed out tickets to the most recent campaign. Contrary to the Fox News TV report (they issued a 'correction' later), the audience, which would be asking the questions, was composed entirely of McCain supporters. No sane opponent would agree to this.
This is a PR hosejob by the McCain campaign. Don't fall for it.

Mark,
You may want to check your sources. Try the McCain website. You can rsvp to any of the Town Hall meetings that are already scheduled. The one in NY was the only one that was scheduled to be carried live on a network. So they gave out tickets. And of course most of those tickets were given out to supporters and by supporters, i mean donors. The real question is... Why would Obama say no? Why not say, I'll do the 10 town halls, and i want you to do this.... then put in his demands. To say that Obama will only do one, and he'll only do it on the 4th of july when nobody will watch it, is a clear sign that his is not the candidate that he claims to be.
Oh, and did anyone see his comments about the price of gas this week? The price doesn't bother him, it's just how quickly it went up that does. I guess when you make over 3 million in book royalties, $75 to fill up your tank no longer matters.